Lady Be Good (46 page)

Dear Mr. O’Shea
,

 

Your niece, Lilah, Lady Palmer, speaks highly of your business acumen. I have a proposition that promises to profit you handsomely. Please reply at your earliest convenience
.

Catherine Everleigh

 

Dear Mr. O’Shea
,

 

Your silence suggests that I have given offense. I would ask you to forgive my forwardness in writing to you without the precedent of a formal introduction. I had anticipated that we would be introduced at the wedding of your niece to Lord Palmer. In consequence of their elopement, I chose instead to contact you directly. It was an egregious breach of etiquette, for which I apologize
.

If you would be so good as to overlook my presumption, I would very much appreciate the chance to speak with you about a prospect that promises a handsome revenue for you. Your niece has assured me that you are a man of fine business sense. I trust you will not dismiss an opportunity for profit without first learning of the details
.

Kind regards,
Miss Catherine Everleigh
Proprietor, Everleigh’s Auction House

 

Dear Mr. O’Shea
,

 

As a particular friend to your niece, Viscountess Palmer (whom you once knew as Lily Monroe but who served in my employ at Everleigh’s under the name of “Lilah Marshall,” for reasons that
you
will not require a reminder of), I feel compelled to inquire after your well-being
.

As you may know, your niece has embarked on an extended honeymoon abroad. It occurs to me that in her absence, you might have entered into some difficulty that prevents you from replying to the letters of her dear friends
.

For her sake, my concern mounts each day that I do not receive a reply from you. Accordingly, I intend to request the police to pay a call tomorrow on the public house in Whitechapel known as Neddie’s, where I am given to understand that your whereabouts would be known, were you still at liberty to discourse upon them. I hope very much to receive happy news from the constables of your continued health
.

Again, allow me to extend my apologies for the forwardness of presuming an acquaintance that has yet to be formally effected
.

Sincerely,
Miss Catherine Everleigh

 

Catherine
,

 

I can only assume you’ve taken a hard knock to your head since we last saw each other. Then again, you and Lily were feeling a mite frisky after escaping that Russian bastard, and you were chugging Neddie’s ale by the bucketful—so perhaps the night has slipped right from your mind
.

But sure and certain you seemed sober enough the time before that, when I knocked Lord Palmer on his well-bred arse at one of your auction-house parties. Perhaps it was my mistake to kiss your hand that night, rather than your sweet little mouth—otherwise you would have remembered our meeting. Alas, that’s the gentleman’s way, more’s the pity
.

At any rate, I consider us thoroughly introduced. Put your mind at ease on
that
front
.

As for visiting, don’t bother to come if it’s business that brings you. I’ve no interest in the sale of glittery bits, or whatever it is that lures toffs to your auction house like chickens toward a cliff
.

However, if you’d like another taste of Whitechapel’s finest, the door always stands open to a friend of Lily’s—particularly a girl who can put away so many pints. This time, however, I won’t be picking up the bill for you—for I am, as you point out, a man of fine business sense, and I know a potential profit when I see one. (Six pints, did you drink? So Neddie swears. But there’s a legend gathering steam that says you drank ten
.)

Cheers, Nick O’Shea

P.S. I reckon you’ll have remarked that this note was delivered by the superintendent of the Whitechapel Division of the Metropolitan Police. Kind of him, innit? Peelers in Whitechapel are tremendously friendly fellows. I reckon it’s because I respect them so. I make sure Neddie never charges them a single penny. But that’s business sense for you!